Fashion & Beauty

Red is one of my favorite colors to wear. It makes me feel vibrant and happy and is just a good color on me. How do you feel about red or bright colors in general? Do you wear bright colors like red or do you stick to neutrals? Whether you go for the “in your face” look of an all over red outfit or just like to add a little punch of color, you are going to love these looks by some of my favorite fashion bloggers. Here’s How to Wear Red Over 40, 50 & Beyond!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

Casual Looks in Red

Shauna from Chic Over 50 pairs her blinged out jeans with a simple red sweater, bag and animal print shooties. Notice her pretty red toenails. If nothing else, red on your toes makes you feel good! Follow Shauna on Instagram.

Kimberly from KandidlyKim posts great looking everyday style on her Instagram feed. Everyday style – that’s exactly where I live! Her red vest brightens up an everyday winter outfit – a sweater and jeans – and makes it a little special. Did you notice how Shauna and Kim are both wearing animal print shoes with their outfits? Such a fun detail!

When I approached Judith about using this great picture of her in my “red” post, she kindly informed me that these super cute cigarette pants were pink. And while if I look close, I can see it, I am going to pretend that they are red. Either way, this is a polished and modern look, perfect for business or lunch out. Follow Judith on Instagram.

I am a big Talbots shopper and a total fan-girl of Alie from Wardrobe Oxygen. This is another blog I read almost every day. I also follow Alie’s Instastories where she is chronicling her journey to improve her health! She is killing it…

I would never wear these two fabulous outfits because I just don’t have the imagination to think of putting them together! But they are perfection! That’s why I love following fashion bloggers! They inspire me to think outside of the box. First is my friend Jodie from Jodie’s Touch of Style – one of my daily must-read blogs. She’s wearing a red plaid blouse with her Fair Isle sweater (that she knitted herself, by the way ) and a red purse with lots of fun detail. The lady knows how to pattern mix – what can I say! Doesn’t she look great! Follow Jodie on Instagram.

And on to Shauna. This is a red sweater layered over a peach lace dress! I could never imagine a sweater over a lace dress or red and peach together but doesn’t it look so chic? And those animal print shooties! My goodness, I am inspired!

Just a Pop!

And for those of you who aren’t going to make your whole outfit revolve around red, here are two ways to just add a bit just for fun. Paula from Dimples On My What? added this cute beanie to her all-black outfit. Doesn’t her complexion look rosy? Follow Paula on Instagram.

Building a Wardrobe You Love. Do you wonder how they do it? Your friends who always look so cute and put together? A year ago, my closet was filled with a wardrobe that I DID NOT LOVE. Not even close. Sometime in my 50’s I forgot how to dress myself. I had nice clothes. That I spent a lot of money on. Yet, I didn’t like how I looked in any of them. I felt fat, unattractive and anything but confident.

What was wrong? When I was younger, I used to dress really cute. Shopping was fun. Everything fit and most styles looked good.

When I reached my 50’s, my adult daughters would shop with me and that was a help. But they were more well-versed in what was “current”. Not so much about what was flattering for my body type. And what the heck WAS my body-type anyway?

Then I heard about Kelly Snyder from Redefined Mom. She faced the same predicament I was in. But one revelation changed that forever… Fashion isn’t art. Fashion is:

science

math

proportion

balance

And now, she is on a mission to demystify fashion for women, transforming the way they think about, buy and put-together outfits…forever!

And last fall, that was exactly what she did for me through her Adore Your Wardrobe eCourse! I loved it so much that I became an affiliate, which means if you purchase the course through my link, I will receive a commission at no extra cost to you. But I would recommend AYW even if they DIDN’T have an affiliate program.

The Adore Your Wardrobe eCourse is a 30-day course that will change the way you think about fashion and your wardrobe. This nine module (and one master class) course contains videos, written overviews, and worksheets to help give you the skills to become a killer fashionista.

You’ll receive instant access to the entire course to enjoy the lessons when it’s convenient for your schedule.

Every few days, you will receive an email from Kelly with an overview of the day’s lesson, as well as a mini-challenges to help build your confidence and feel successful in your ability to create a great-looking outfit.

PLUS: Exclusive access to our private Facebook group to connect with and encourage each other as we walk this path together!

Here’s what the Adore Your Wardrobe Course did for me:

I found out what my body-type REALLY was and learned exactly what cuts and length of tops and pants were most flattering on me. Again – not what I thought AT ALL. The types of clothes I was purchasing for my body-type were adding so much extra bulk to my frame. No wonder I felt fat and frumpy!

Since I know EXACTLY what to look for, shopping is a breeze. I don’t take a gajillion things into a dressing room, try them on and hope for the best. I choose only the things I know will be flattering and have a much greater chance of walking out of the store with pieces I love.

I don’t waste money on clothes that are not going to work.

I’ve learned how to bring attention to my best features with my clothing and accessories.

I have fewer clothes, more outfits and I LOVE everything in my closet.

Through the exclusive Facebook group, I had access to AYW body-type experts who helped me as I put together new outfits and gave me important feedback on my outfits. This group is SO NICE!

Registration for Adore Your Wardrobe begins today and runs through January 30. The course begins January 31. Due to the popularity of the course, they are putting a cap on the number of participants in order to give everyone the attention they need (and that is a key component in my opinion). You don’t want to wait until the last minute to register!

If you have questions about my experience, put it in the comments and I’ll answer! I learned so much from this course, I’ve already signed up for AYW Course #2!

We’re in the middle of the most festive time of the year where holiday parties and get-togethers with friends and family abound. It’s also the most fun time of year to bring out something special to wear. Something elegant, appropriate and comfortable. Here are my Holiday Outfit Ideas from Misook, a luxury line of knit clothing that features timeless silhouettes, sophisticated colors and are figure flattering for all sizes from XS to 3X!

This post is sponsored by Misook. All opinions are my own.

Holiday Outfit Ideas that Sparkle

The Sequin and Sheer Jacket is the perfect statement piece for a holiday party, cocktail party or a wedding. It is totally luxe, can be paired easily with neutrals and is hand washable. It also comes in gold/black.

The champagne/gold Sequin Jacket is another show-stopper that can be worn year round. Pair it with light colored neutrals for your spring/summer events or darker neutrals for your fall/winter events. The open front, bracelet length sleeves and beautiful cut of this jacket are designed to flatter any figure.

Holiday Outfit Ideas in Red & Green

Red and Green are the colors of Christmas!

The Tonal Pattern Jacket in cherry red with black trim is lovely and has just the right pop for a special celebration – hosting a Christmas party, night out at the symphony or date night with your special someone. This silky soft knit is machine washable, wrinkle resistant and packs like a dream.

Wear this Abstract Plaid Jacket in ivy when you want to be festive, but a little more subdued. Perfect for an after-work party, brunch or holiday luncheon. It’s also totally appropriate business attire for after the holidays.

Holiday Outfit Ideas with a Winter Theme

Holiday dressing doesn’t have to necessarily be “blingy” or in traditional colors.

This leopard print, Faux Fur Vest is totally on trend and will take you from early fall right through winter. Pair it with anything from slacks to leggings to jeans. It promises to be one of your most versatile wardrobe pieces. And it’s on sale!

Don’t you love these gorgeous pieces? Did you get a little bit of “sticker shock” when you clicked through and saw the prices? There was a time when I certainly did because I don’t typically spend that much on clothes.

However, as I’ve revamped and refined my midlife style, I have come to see the wisdom in having a few well made “investment pieces” that I can wear in lots of different ways for many years rather than having a whole slew of trendy, less well-made items. Plus, Misook is offering 25% off their entire site with the promo code MSK1691, which helps to make their fashion more affordable!

All Misook pieces are designed to be mixed and matched, season after season. They are classic pieces that won’t stretch or fade over time because each piece is knit individually rather than being cut from a large swatch of fabric.

So if you have a beautiful item of clothing that is a classic silhouette, can be worn in a multitude of ways and is made to last for years, your actual price per wear comes out to be quite reasonable!

Misook also carries and line of well-made fashion basics. Take a look at their pants, skirts, and dresses.

I’m all about comfort. But comfort doesn’t have to mean pajama pants and a t-shirt. Take this look from Soft Surroundings. It’s tailored, dressy enough to wear for a business meeting, to church or a cocktail party and let me tell you – it’s comfortable. I call it Tailored Comfort. Let’s break it down.

Soft Surroundings provided the clothes and accessories in exchange for a review. All styling and opinions are my own.

The Runway Pullover is a super warm tunic in a rib sweater knit. Unlike so many tunics that look super boxy on me, this one is more tailored, giving a much more flattering silhouette. The black velvet trim detail is on trend for fall. The sleeves are long, but I pushed them up to 3/4 length. It comes in Petite and Women’s sizes and in a couple other colors. Something for everybody.

This top would look great over leggings or paired with jeans for a casual look. I chose the Ultra Soft Bootcut Pants. They are pull-on pants with an elastic waistband and the super-soft, luxurious fabric looks like suede. The bootcut style does a great job of balancing out my pear-shaped body!

I have several pairs of Soft Surroundings pants & shorts. I especially like their Metro Leggings and have a pair of these shorts in every color. The designers at Soft Surroundings have a knack for making stylish pants with great details that just happen to have an elastic waistband. The fit and tailoring are so great, you’d never know they were pull-on pants.

Now let’s talk accessories.

This Jenna Leather Clutch in silver is a GORGEOUS bag that goes great with the outfit.

On my wrist is the Shimmy Stretch Bracelet that comes in silver and gold. This is really 5 separate stretchy bracelets that can be worn separately, together or combined with other bracelets. This bracelet gives you lots of options for many different looks.

The other accessory (not provided by Soft Surroundings) is my grandson Jeffrey! Such a helpful little guy during our photo shoot!

The calendar says that it’s Fall. In most parts of the country, the temperatures have dropped, the leaves are turning and everyone is getting out their sweaters. But if you live in the South, it is Fall on the calendar ONLY. Some days are a TAD cooler, but we will likely see several more weeks of 90’s until it truly feels like Fall. So, how can you dress for Fall when it’s still sweltering outside? I turned to some of my favorite fashion bloggers to get the answer. Here are 7 Chic Ways to Turn Your Summer Clothes into Fall Outfits.

Keep Wearing Your White Pants

The “don’t wear white pants after Labor Day” isn’t a thing anymore.

Alison from Wardrobe Oxygen shows that by pairing her white pants with a darker top and some gorgeous animal print pumps, you can take the look right into Fall. Alison is even an expert on the topic! Read her post-Wearing White After Labor Day for more ideas.

Ana from Mrs. American Made keeps cool by wearing a dark floral top with her white jeans and sandals. I have been reading Mrs. American Made for a while and love Ana’s style. Here’s how she describes herself: “I am not a model. I am not a super-duper high-end fashionista. I am just a mom trying to look cute on an everyday basis.” How relatable is that? AND she is committed to featuring lots of American made products on her blog.

And Speaking of Dark Florals

Dark florals are a trend I love this Fall. And there are lots of lightweight tops with a dark floral pattern that “say Fall” without causing you to have a heat stroke.

JoLynne from JoLynneShane.com tops her dark floral cami with a rib stitch cardigan. Perfect if it’s a little cool outside. I read JoLynne’s blog religiously. She’s just like she says: “I’m the girlfriend who keeps you in the know with the latest trends, the best sales, and wearable everyday outfits for the modern woman . . . because friends don’t let friends wear mom jeans.

JoLynne features lots of different outfits on her blog and ALWAYS gives an honest assessment of their fit and quality. She also knows her stuff. One of the most popular posts I have ever featured in my newsletter was her post Fight the Frump: Denim Mistakes You Might Be Making.

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

The Chadwicks vest is no longer available, but check out these cute options here* & here .

*20% off with my code MS20

Wear a Poncho

When I think poncho – I think of this huge, crocheted, triangular garment that I work in the 70’s when I was in junior high. But ponchos come in so many flattering styles and fabrics these days. The poncho that JoLynne is wearing nips in a little at the waist, so the fit is flattering instead of looking boxy on her. In this post, she wears it alone with jeans, but a soon as it gets cold a long-sleeve tee or turtleneck could be added for warmth.

Jodie from Jodie’s Touch of Style is fearless when it comes to putting the unexpected together. In this post, she and her models (Mom Charlotte and Stepmom Nancy) paired their summer skirts with more Fall-colored tops like this muted purple that Jodie is wearing. Isn’t it great?

As a blogger and solopreneur who works from home, my daily attire is casual. Comfort is the top priority. But I also want to look put together. And I want my clothes to work whether I’m at home, running errands or out with friends. Enter T by Talbots.

My regular readers know that I am a huge Talbots fan. I love the quality and fit of their clothes. Their always classic style fits my fashion personality to a “T” (pun intended). However, this is the first time I tried any of the T by Talbots line and I must say, I love these clothes.

Casual, Comfortable & Put Together | A Review of T by Talbots

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

Talbots provided a gift card for me to purchase the clothing in this post. All opinions are my own.

T by Talbots Triple Stripes Dress

In the last 10 years or so, it seems I’ve gravitated away from dresses for some reason, except for special occasions like a wedding. So when the staff at my local Talbots showed me the Triple Stripes Dress, I said, “Ok” to humor them, but in my head, I was thinking “This is definitely NOT ME!” I was so wrong…I put on this cute dress and had to have it.

The soft jersey knit feels great. I like that the fit is loose, but it still has some structure so it doesn’t look like a tent on me.

I’ve worn it after a day at the beach, to church and out to dinner. It’s something that I can put on in the morning and wear until bedtime because it takes me wherever I want to go.

T by Talbots Mixed Stripe T and Woven Roll-Cuff Crop

This combination of the Mixed-Stripe T and Woven Roll-Cuff Crop with elastic waist feels like pajamas. They are so soft and comfortable. And I love this forest green color that is so on-trend for fall. Since I live in Texas and we won’t see temperatures out of the 90’s until October, this outfit is perfect for this summer to fall transition period. The pants run a little big, so you may want to size down.

I’ve been on a quest for cute shoes for women with wide feet for as long as I can remember. My mom had wide feet. I have wide feet. And for the longest time, I had to squeeze into shoes that hurt my feet because no one made cute shoes for women with wide feet!

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

With the advent of online shopping, and retailers like Zappos, I can now find a much better selection when shopping online, but rarely find shoes that fit my 8EE feet in stores. Even stores like Naturalizer that carry wide-sized shoes don’t often carry them in their stores. I usually have to order them online.

And even if you don’t have particularly wide feet, you may have developed foot problems that cause you to have to shop for shoes that will accommodate issues like bunions, hammer toes, and bone spurs.

But no matter what your shoe size or the condition of your feet, wearing shoes that are too tight can cause skin irritations, superficial skin ulcers, corn formations and calluses on the ball of the foot! OUCH. And I don’t know about you, but when my feet hurt, I am miserable, so I don’t care how cute the shoes are – it’s not worth it.

Fortunately, women with wide feet no longer have to choose between style and comfort since many shoe manufacturers now offer shoes in wide widths. My favorite place to shop for shoes is Zappos. They have a HUGE selection, FREE shipping & return, quick delivery and the most excellent customer service I have ever encountered! I LOVE FREE SHIPPING AND FREE RETURNS! I can order 2 sizes of the same shoe at no extra cost and then ship back the one that doesn’t fit.

Massaging your feet with a moisturizing Foot Cream that contains ingredients such as Urea, Aloe, Vitamin E, & Chamomile will soften and hydrate rough, dry and fissured skin. Do this before you go to bed so that the cream will have the opportunity to be absorbed.

Now on to the cute shoes. Don’t have wide feet? Not to worry – these shoes all come in regular sizes too!

The Best Summer Purses. There are so many! How do you choose? First, ask yourself “What is my purse personality? “

Do you change purses with every outfit? Or do you have one purse you carry all the time?

Do you spend a lot of money on really nice, designer purses and keep them for years? Or do you opt for the more inexpensive purses and buy a new one every season?

Is your purse the “family purse”? The kind that is huge so that you carry all your stuff, drinks & snacks for the kids and your husband’s keys and sunglasses? Or do you like a smaller purse with just your essentials?

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

Whatever your purse personality, there are loads of options these days. And I found a number of them on Amazon. I’ve never really thought of buying something like a purse on Amazon before. But as I perused their selection, I was amazed at the number of choices there were! So many styles, price points, and colors. Much more than you would get in a brick and mortar store. And if you are an Amazon Prime member, you get free 2-day shipping!

Whether you’re a Prime member or not, here are some really cute purses in lots of different styles. Pick up one or two to jazz up any outfit!

Best Summer Purses

The Clutch

Do you have a clutch? I usually take a clutch to an evening or more formal occasion like a summer wedding. But you don’t have to limit them to dressy occasions! A clutch is good ANYTIME when you just want to carry your essentials and not lug a big bag around.

Cross Body Bag

Cross Body bags are perfect for running errands or shopping. Your hands are free and since you have the bag strapped across your body it is a bit more secure. The Cross Body bag is one that I am looking to add to my wardrobe.

Every Day Purses

Need to carry more than just the essentials? These purses are the “workhorses”. You can have different ones for different outfits. Or you can have one that goes with everything that is ready to pick up and go as you head out the door.

Backpack Purses

Backpacks are another great option is you want a purse that you can carry hands-free. Most have multiple compartments for keeping you stuff organized.

Totes

There are totes for every occasion. Dressier ones that hold your laptop, iPad, bottle of water and lunch. Or the kind that holds your swimsuit, towel, and sunscreen for the beach. Totes are so cute!

Which type of purse is your favorite? Which one do you want to add to your wardrobe? Tell me in the comments.

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Do you shop online? These days I make more purchases online than I do at actual stores. I love the convenience of online shopping. I love the selection. I love not having to “go shopping”! And I also love saving money. But while saving money is great, I am not willing to work particularly hard to do it. I’m not going to clip coupons, sign up for emails, do online surveys or follow a company on Facebook just to save a few pennies. But if I can shop online, save some money and don’t have to jump through a lot of hoops, I’m all in! Here are my 5 EASY ways to save money when shopping online.

6 Ways to Wear Pastels for Women Over 50 contains some affiliate links for your convenience. If you purchase a product through my link, I may receive a small commission. I so appreciate every click-through and purchase! Every little bit helps to keep My Side of 50 up and running!

Should women “of a certain age” wear pastels? For those who abide by the old “fashion rules”, the answer will be no. It was thought that pastels were too “juvenile and little girly”. They made you look like a mutton trying to dress like a lamb. But those fashion rules have gone out the window. Today’s post features 6 (mostly) midlife fashion bloggers who will show you their best looks featuring pastels.

6 Ways To Wear Pastels For Women Over 50 | A Style Guide

Wear pastels in a way that compliments your natural coloring.

She is not ANYWHERE near age 50, but I just had to show you how fabulous she looks in this pink bomber jacket. For those of you who live where the weather is still cool, this is a beautiful way to add a little spring to your wardrobe and still keep warm. It’s modern, edgy, and feminine all at the same time.

If you are naturally a brunette or redhead, pastels right up by your face can make you appear washed out. But pair them with a darker color and you will look fabulous!

Wear pastels with black and white

Nora actually designs and sells most of what she wears at jacketsociety.com. All the jackets, tops and jewelry she is wearing in these pictures are for sale at jacketsociety.com. And better yet, she is offering My Side of 50 readers a 10% discount on everything in her store PLUS free US Shipping! ($25 flat rate for international shipping). Just use the code JS10 when you checkout.

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Accessorize pastels with neutrals

This is Fonda from Savvy Southern Chic. Fonda has paired her blush pink skirt with 3 great neutrals – a white top, nude sandals and a gray purse. Doesn’t she look so pretty?And I just love that gray purse with this look!

Pair pastels with white

Barbi from Southern Blonde Chic is wearing a very feminine powder blue top with white jeans and pink wedges. One of the keys to wearing pastels over 50 is not having too many other embellishments that would make the look go over the top. Since her top is unstructured and flowy, the structure of her jeans balances the whole look out. She looks so great!

And speaking of the “skinny jeans” that both Nora and Barbi are wearing…you don’t have to be super skinny to wear skinny jeans! All that “skinny jeans” means is that they are more fitted to your body and that they taper to the ankle. I own 2 pairs and I wear a size 14!!! And have a poochy tummy. One of my favorite pairs is the Metro Leggings from Soft Surroundings. Even though they are called “leggings” they are really more like jeans. The Metro Leggings have an elastic waistband, but you would never know it. The tailoring and structure of these jeans are so flattering! They also come in several colors, including white.

Pair pastels with prints

Nancy is the 60’s model from Jodie’s Touch of Style which features 2 other models – Jodie in her 50’s and Charlotte in her 70’s. Her pretty pink sweater looks great over these floral pants. And even though pairing a pastel sweater with florals might SOUND like a bit much, it works, because her pants taper at the ankle. And don’t you love her pink and black pumps? Kinds of adds a bit of an edge to a very feminine outfit.

Wear your pastels on the bottom

And if you just don’t want pastels up by your face, there are so many great pants and jeans in pastel colors these days. Shelly from The Queen In Between is wearing her fun purple pastel jeans with a great floral kimono. She is so on point!

How about you? Will you be incorporating pastels into your wardrobe? Here are some links to some great pieces to get you started!

And even if you would NEVER buy clothes online, every click through to one of the outfits generates a few pennies to keep My Side of 50 up and running! I so appreciate your support! By the way – those Talbot’s shorts on the top row are my summer uniform. They come in several lengths and lots of colors. They look like they are for super skinny people – but remember – I am a size 14!

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6 Ways to Wear Pastels For Women Over 50 | A Style Guide was last modified: September 20th, 2017 by Cathy Lawdanski

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